Ariel back in business

After a 50-year gap, Ariel has unveiled a new motorcycle called the Ace – or should it be Aces. That’s because the new machine only has a couple of not-negotiable parts, including the Honda VFR1200F engine and trellis frame, and the rest is a bespoke build system.

The attached images are examples of how each motorcycle can be tailored to individual customers, from low-riding cruisers to nakeds and supersport bikes – the combinations are just about endless. Owners can choose between different suspension, seats, fuel tanks, handlebars, wheels, exhausts, footrests, bodywork, colours, finishes and materials.

“Motorcyclists have a real passion for their machines. They like them to be individual and they want them to be their bike, not just another bike identical to hundreds or thousands of others,” said Simon Saunders, a director at Ariel. “The usual route is to buy a standard bike and then add various aftermarket components to change the bike into what they want.

However with the Ace the uniqueness is built in as the bike is produced and each one will be as individual as its owner.”

“The first photos show just two different possibilities of specification for the bike, but the combinations are nearly endless and we plan to continue to add further options in the future. At Ariel once we understand what a customer wants, whatever it is, we can build the bike they need.”

Each Ace motorcycle will be hand-built by a technician in an individual build bay. As with the Atom sports car, which uses a Honda Type R engine, customers can get to the point of being able to visit their bike during the production process. Only when an Ariel technician is satisfied will the motorcycle gain his personal build plate and move onto final testing and inspection.

The Ace is also upgradeable over a period of time, just like the Atom. Owners can return their bikes to the factory where upgrades, modifications and new options can be fitted to change a customer’s bike for different uses or to modify the specification at any time.

Front suspension options are telescopic forks or the Ariel girder front end. Made from machined aluminium, Ariel says the girder forks provide greater “compliance” and better response under brakes.

Front brakes are Nissin 320mm dual floating hydraulic discs with six-piston calipers, while the rear is a Nissin 276mm disc with twin-piston caliper (plus park brake with the dual clutch transmission). All versions of the Ace have anti-lock braking.

Wheels are five and seven-spoke alloy, with the option of weight-saving carbon fibre and aluminium wheels. All Aces will come with a choice of Dunlop tyres – an association dating back to 1895.

Instrumentation is via a Race Technologies LCD dash, also found on the Atom. The instruments feature programmable gearshift lights plus multi-screen information that can be set up and scrolled through by the rider. All lighting is LED.

The 1237cc Honda V4 produces 173hp and 129Nm, with ride by wire technology combined  with Ariel’s fuel mapping and intake system.

The Ace will be made in low volume by Ariel at its factory in Somerset in quantities of between 100-150 motorcycles per annum alongside the Atom sports car. Orders are now being taking, with production beginning at the start of 2015.

Prices for the Ace aim to start at £20,000 (AUD36,150) in the UK, with a comprehensive option list to allow each bike to be tailored to order.